Inversion Properties of n-Alkane Phosphonic Acids Stabilized Emulsions: HLB Dependence

Abstract

The emulsifier properties of n-alkane phosphonic acids (C10H21PO3H2; C12H25PO3H2 and C13H27PO3H2) and their mono- and di-sodic salts were studied, with emphasis on the morphological and dynamical inversion properties as a function of their neutralization degree. Maximum stabilization properties were appreciated for C10PO3H2 and C12PO3H2 while not for C13PO3H2. Such fact is associated to their odd number of carbon atoms chain, which is the origin of the intrachain constraints on the tail-chain flexibility.

Keywords:

• n-alkane phosphonates
• catastrophic inversion
• emulsions
• HLB
• transitional inversion

This work was financed by Universidad Nacional del Sur and the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT) de la República Argentina PICT N° 10-14560. V.V. has a fellowship of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina (CONICET). P.V.M. is an adjunct researcher of CONICET.

Notes

∗Grams of surfactant required to obtain 100 mL of emulsion.

^a Total volume = (oil + water) phase volume before emulsification.